How come cigarettes and alcohol are not considered illegal drugs?

Non-Compassionate Liberal

You're absolutely right. alcohol and Tobacco are about the worst for health.
And nobody wants to beat their old lady when they're high on pot.

yodeladyhoo

Alcohol was prohibited for a while back in the 1920's. Mobsters ran the stills and there were more problems than what the Prohibition was supposed to stop by forcing everyone to be ' dry '. Tobacco has been used since the first arrival of the Europeans to the American continent.

Also, these two items are so heavily taxed that if you made them illegal there would be a serious drop in the state revenue.

byderule

Isnt it obvious ,because the Masons have a lot of money tied up in the two industries
and the Government is getting billions of dollars in tax.

Meriwether R.

You should research the word "prohibition." We tried it with alcohol. It didn't work out too well.

Anon Tom

Tobacco companies are heavily subsidized by the government (if you can imagine, given their immense profits). Likewise, alcohol companies contribute heavily to political campaigns.

No way either is going to become illegal anytime soon. And, for the record, in the case of alcohol, that is a good thing. Prohibition didn't work.

Bruce D

Prohibition failed . So alcohol is allowed but metered. Smoking is illegal in or near public buildings in many cities.
I never heard of someone doing something crazy becuase they smoked,but I have heard of it due to illegal drug use. And yes, alcohol as well.

Rain

The government makes too darn much money off taxing them to make them illegal. It's all about money...with the government it usually is.

PajamaMama

Sadly, because of the money that's being made by big corporations. Our laws are so inconsistent.

I believe that, while tobacco may never be outlawed, when and where you can use it will become so restricted that the number of people hooked on it will decrease to almost nothing.

Alcohol is another story. I can't wait to see what happens...

Another theory (See Kitty Lover's Answer #2 below) is that High People = Happy People. I think it's clear from Kitty Lover's phrasing that she thinks this is a good thing. I, personally, view it as a bad thing; a method that the government uses to lull us into a false sense of well-being so that we can be more easily controlled. (See George Orwell's book "1984" for more on this at http://www.online-literature.com/orwell/1984/
You can read the whole book on this website.

God bless.

Well,years ago nobody knew that they was bad for you.Now that we all know I guess the governments are just to used to the huge money they make from them and are closing their eyes on this problem

xuaznertx

they are controllerd substances just like coke and weed and meth but they are less strictly controlled

Smarty Kat

I think cocaine is more deadly & addictive than either cigarettes or alcohol & I'm SURE meth is!

A better question would be "Why is marijuana illegal while cigarettes & alcohol are not?"

Marijuana is not physically addictive & most agree it is not as damaging to the body as cigarettes & alcohol.

RoxieC

Because the people that made the laws want them to be legal.

Chele

big industry and lots of pay offs ... though it's getting harder to smoke in some states you'd think its really illegal since you are basically being hidden from everyone

xialou1

alcohol was illegal but the fight against it was too expensive called prohibition, ciggarettes were sold as nutricious and doctor recomended.......

melissa

Big Tobacco owns too many politicans, and the government can tax the crap out of both items, and we will keep buying them, so they work well as legal drugs.

Mr Bellows

Big Corporations and tax money,need I say more????

molliehollie

They are if you are not of age to purchase them...

Kim

Because they tried that, at least for alcohol, and it didn't work. It doesn't work for other drugs either, but it employs a lot of people with good retirements and health insurance. That's what it's really all about, benefits. Drug people are going to be drug people no matter what the law is or says.

*Ignorance is your worst enemy*

#1 reason is MONEY They tax heavily on both example Chicago taxes Cigarettes heavily a pack can run you up to $9 in the city of Chicago Out side the city they are $3.75 (all that increase is TAX)

#2 they have to keep us happy and with other activities to not think about the fact we wrk 5days a week 40 hours or more and are commuting up to 2 hours 1 way leaving us with very lil free time so Alcohol keeps us happy and Nicotine keeps us a lil less stress through out the day. Happy People = Happy country

samunition

Because they are an essential part of our economy and are really cool.

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